32 Weeks

Woke up with some MAJOR cramping this morning. Worse than any PMS like cramps I've ever had. I am trying to stay mellow about stuff (since every time I call the Dr. for something -- even something he TOLD me to call about -- he totally blows it off as normal). They lasted about an hour and I had 3 contractions on top of them.
Contractions are super fun. I can't tell what's a Braxton Hicks and what's a real contraction anymore. Monkey still refuses to turn and each contraction stretches my uterine wall over her head on one side and her butt on the other and it's really not comfortable.
I'm also having some WICKED round ligament pain. The last couple of days I've had to have Justin help me out of bed (more like pick me up out of bed) and hold me while I walk a little to stretch out the ligament, before I can put all my weight on my left leg. I'm not sure it's supposed to be this severe. If it persists thru the weekend I will call the Dr. on Monday. Otherwise I'll bring it up at my next appointment.
My cravings for sweets have been crazy in the last couple of days. I have a feeling I'm in for another lecture from Dr. Fat Nazi. Oh well. I already have SO many restrictions on what I can eat. It seems like everything that is healthy but still convenient and yummy is off limits! So I'm OK with gaining a little weight for now and having to work hard to get it off later when I can eat things like deli meat, salads from the salad bar, and etc.
Jamie and Erin are coming over tomorrow to paint the nursery while I work on the curtains and remaining bedding. I decided to just go with white walls.
I will be so happy when the nursery is all done and I can get the rest of the house in order.

GD...

PASS!!!!!!! I DO NOT have gestational diabetes! YAY! I did however pass by the skin of my teeth. The cut off is 139 and I scored a 138! But passing is passing.
The bad news is I gained 10 lbs in the last 3 weeks...oops. I got a lecture from my OB about it. So despite not having GD I'm going to have to lay off the sweets and whopper jr.s. =(
And I was doing so well. I really think it's my lack of activity. Since all those BH contractions I've been pretty much just sitting on my ass. But now that the baby isn't sitting so very low I might be able to get up and walk.
I've got the night shift again this week. I will be doing my indoor walking.

I THINK we might have a name. I'm still going to wait until I meet the monkey before I tell anyone about it. But I'm liking the sound of it so far.

21 weeks

Every Friday I am consistently amazed that another week has gone by and we are one week closer to meeting our little baby. I wonder what he/she will be like, what he/she will look like, and if we will feel different when we are finally parents. I'm not sure I can quite imagine what it will be like, how much our lives are going to change in a matter of moments...
Ok, enough of the sappy stuff and on to what's up this week:
I'm back to feeling fine. No more queasiness in the mornings. I'm thrilled about that. And the monkey is kicking like a maniac. I can feel "her" turning around every now and then. It's quite uncomfortable. And sometimes I feel like there are little limbs poking me in certain spots. Watching the kicks from the outside is endlessly amusing. I can't even describe how silly it looks. One of these day's I'll catch it on video...maybe when it's a bit more pronounced.
As far as cravings go I don't really have anything intense. Food definitely tastes different and I find myself liking things I didn't used to (like green bean casserole) and things that don't really sound all that appetizing (like red grapes dipped in sour cream, I know...But I swear, it's yummy).
The belly is definitely getting out there and I am starting to feel kinda fat, even though I'm really not. I think it's mostly because of my barren wardrobe. I am SO frustrated with maternity clothes! I was in Old Navy today and their sizing SUCKS. Mediums fit in the butt and hips, but are way too tight around my ever expanding belly. So I try a large and it's nice and comfortable in the waistband, but the butt and hips fit like the fat pants picture on a weight loss infomercial. It's ridiculous! I mean seriously? I could fit one of myself in each leg. I wanted to throw them at the dressing room attendant and scream...
Which brings me to the mood swings. I feel like a crazy person. I can't stop myself from getting totally worked up over anything even remotely frustrating. Someone on the nest posted a link to this place in California where you can go and throw breakable stuff at a wall. I NEED a place like that. There is nothing like smashing thing into little bits to release tension. And don't even get me started on work. I shudder to think what my blood pressure must be doing this past week. I really hope this ends soon. I don't like feeling so out of control.
I've been feeling less tired though. I think being off the progesterone is making a difference there. I'm no longer totally incapacitated by anything less than 10 hours of shut eye.
And speaking of sleep, I have a big day tomorrow with my girls (lunch, shopping, and knitting, and then enchiladas and Christmas cookies with Mom and Dad and the Navy kids across the street my Mom's practically adopted) so I'm going to go get some.

Baby monkey and I say: So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, goodbye...(yes, of course my baby knows showtunes already.)

18 weeks!

18 weeks and counting. I really and just so thankful to have made it this far. I'm still nervous as heck that something will go wrong and I still depend on lots of prayer and my handy dandy doppler to get me thru the really rough days. But we certainly have much to be thankful for this year!
The belly is really getting out there. Look how round it looks from the front now! People still don't notice that I'm pregnant though. If it happens to come up when talking to a stranger they always do a double take. What do they just think I'm fat? Seriously people...that's a belly. And not a belly that says I just enjoy a few nightly beers. Sheesh. But at least I'm not getting rude and annoying comments from people like "WOW, are you SURE it's not twins?"
I am still feeling little kicks. Monkey usually has 2 active periods per day on days I work and 1 on days I don't. I notice the strongest kicks at work, when I'm sitting Indian-style in my chair (something I am taking full advantage of while I still can). And then at night while I'm lying on my side with my legs curled up. They totally tickle. I can't get over what a strange sensation it is!
I've been craving sweets lately. Good thing the Greek Festival is this weekend and I have an excuse to indulge! Baklava! MMMMMM.
And since my belly seems to look SO much bigger to me than it does to everyone else...here it is, from my vantage point (notice how there are no feet in this picture):

Reprieve!

Today has been a pretty good day. I wasn't feeling too well this morning, but since then I have actually been HUNGRY! Really hungry. I can't wait to get home and make a grilled cheese with tomato and mustard...I LOVE mustard right now. Not a whole lot of food sounds appetizing still, but at least I want to eat again. I can't wait for the day that I want something other than carnation instant breakfast, mashed potatos, and stuff smothered in sharp cheddar cheese.

I was able to sleep a good 7 hours last night AND take a nap before work. I think that must have helped with the nausea. I've been yawning all day so hopefully I can sleep well again tonight...after my grilled cheese ::drool::

2 months!

8 Weeks. Did I really make it this far? Is there really a heart beat inside that bloated belly? I still can't quite believe it. I feel remarkably blessed by every day i still FEEL pregnant. Nevermind that I have to spend the majority of my time in bed being boring, letting my house become even more of a disaster than it usually is.
I've missed a lot of work lately, which I hate to do. But some days I feel like I'm being stabbed in the chest (thank you heartburn). I go to puke and nothing but stomach acid comes back up...mostly in a gaseous state. It always makes me feel better, so about 6 seconds and then the pressure is back. Morning sickness hits me between 3-5pm most days...If it doesn't last ALL day. And I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping, despite how exhausted I really am.

And I feel like I should be walking with a cane. My hips must be loosening and it hurts. I've been hobbling around like an old lady.

This week, for the first time ever, I have noticed that my belly feels quite heavy and full. I know most of it is just bloating, but right near my pelvis and in between my hips I can definitely feel my uterus popping out a bit. I'm not really sure how something so low can make you belly pop out so roundly. I am going to assume it's because it pushes everything else in the abdominal cavity up and out. Hopefully in a few weeks I will actually see a baby belly start to pop out.

I broke down and bought some maternity clothes at Old Navy this weekend. They were having a great big sale and it's pretty tough to find cute maternity clothes at a decent price. I think (and hope) I got some peices that will last a good while, some even post pregnancy. I am really looking forward to comfortable clothing. Especially at work. I think with this bloat my regular jeans are a thing of the past. I haven't actually gained any weight though...yet.

I have more to say, but I have GOT to get my butt to bed. Hopefull I have exhausted myself enough to sleep into the late morning. And then I think I am going to have to get my hair cut off and thinned out. It has become so coarse and unmanageable in the last couple of weeks. I really hope that doesn't last.

Good night sweet baby of mine. Grow strong and healthy and stay put for at least 29 more weeks.

XOXO

PS: Ignore the cell phone. Justin wouldn't let me go long enough to take a picture

OH YEAH...I'm Pregnant

The only 2 things I can even THINK about eating right now are toast and pot stickers from TGIFridays. I can't even open the refridgerator without gagging. That goes double for anything sweet. I usually LOVE sweets. Today I caught a glimpse of some chocolate chip cookies in the break room at work and almost threw up.
So thank you Lord for pot stickers or I would not be getting ANY nutrients right now (not like pot stickers are all that healthy, but at least they contain chicken and some veggies). I have lost 2 pounds in the last 2 days! NOT GOOD.

Almost 6 weeks now baby cakes. Grow strong for mommy.